Handbag



June 8, 1937. 5 L 2,083,029

HANDBAG Filed April 15, 1937 2 Z INVENTOR. /Z0 20/- 'U ATTORNEY.

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags and has particular reference to bagand frame assemblies.

One object of the invention is to provide a handbag comprising animproved frame adapted to be completely preformed so as to be assembledin that condition with a completed bag body, with a minimum ofmanipulation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such an improvedframe and bag assembly characterized by a novel handle structure whichmay form an integral part of the frame.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a framed handbaghaving a removable cover in uniform, neat appearing and improvedassociation therewith or with the novel bag and frame assembly.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a handbag adapted to reston its frame in an easel-like display manner.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of a novel handbaghaving few and simple parts and which is durable and reliable in use,neat in appearance, and especially inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference "characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a handbag embodying theinvention, and may represent the same with and without a cover.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, with parts removed, of the handbagset up in easel-like position.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bag bodymounting, on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section of the closed bag having a coverthereon.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the frame assembly, with parts removed,and the dotted lines showing a U-shaped frame member in sprung position.

Fig. 7 is a'diagrammatic view of the frame assembly with a cover rod incourse 'of being applied thereto.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is

submitted merely as showing the preferred'ex emplification of theinvention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l denotes a device embodying theinvention, and which may or may not comprise a removable cover for thebag body as hereinafter described. The device Ill may include a bag bodyll having side walls l2 interconnected by infolding end gussets l3. Theupper edge portions of the side walls may be infolded to providemarginal tubular portions l4 along the mouthor opening of the bag body,leaving a smooth uniform exterior. A lining l may overlie and finish atIt the inturned tube forming portions as shown in Fig. 5.

The handbag [0 may include a frame ll that may comprise a pair of likeinverted U-shaped frame. members l8, each having a top handle bar l9 andend arms 20 depending therefrom, and connected therewith by resilientlybendable curved portions. Preferably these frame members H are one piececonstructions and consist of slightly resilient material for relativemovement between the arms 20 of each frame member. The frame members maybe movably or pivotally interengaged as at 2| at the lower ends of saidarms for relative movement of the frame members toward and away fromeach other to close and open the bag body.

Extending freely through the tubular portions M of the bag body are theindividual rods 22, each having an undercut shoulder forming end pins 23engaged in alined opposed holes 24 of the arms 20 of the respectiveframe members, to thus support the bag body. The rods 22 are thuspositioned intermediate of the handlebars and pivot ends and in spacedrelation to both. As shown in Fig. 6, the rods 22 are assembled with theframe members by springing apart the arms 20 of the latter, as suggestedin dotted lines, to permit the pins 22 of said rods to be sprung intosaid holes 24. In performing this action the parts of the arms 20 abovethe holes 24 afford a leverage L to permit the deformation to occurwithout exceeding the elastic limit of the material. In this simplemanner, without change in shape or construction of the preformed bagbody H and frame ll the handbag ill is completely assembled with aminimum of manipulation, to afford a reliable and durable structure, andwhich is neat appearing and'simulates a conventional handbag with a thearms 26 lying partially within the external spaces of the gussets [3.Further, the handbag as thus instantaneously assembled is furnished withhandles [9 which require no particular construction or labor either asparts of the bag body or frame.

If desired, the frame members I8 may consist of channel material asshown in Fig. 4 so as to receive therein suitable ornamentation such as;

the corded fabric 25 which is clamped in the channel and may projectfrom the mouth thereof to afford a continuous ornamentation extendingalong the upper faces of the handle bars i9 and along the outer edges ofthe arms 20. When such ornamentation is used, any suitable releasablelocking device 26 may be disposed on the underside of the handle barsi9, and may include'a plate 21 rigidly fixed to one handle bar forriding under and engaging as in a perforation or groove thereof a pin 28rigidly fixed to the companion handle bar. The free end of the plate 21then laterally projects beyond the companion'frame member. The lockingdevice 26 is operative without the use of springs by reason of thelength of the arms 29, the handle bars being spaced above the bag body,so that the frame members have ample inherent resilience for the actionof the locking device 26. To release the latter, downward pressure maybe exerted at the free end of the laterally projecting plate 21 torelease the pin 28. If desired, the plate 21 maybe resilient, and, of'course, it may be spring actuated in a manner that is usual in thelocking devices of ladies handbags.

The device illmay be set up in an easel-like manner as shown in Fig. 2by swinging the frame members i8 about their pivots 2| through an anglesomewhat greater than 180 degrees, the pivot or hinge means 2| being ofthe well known type adapted to act as a stop to limit the swingingmovement. The frame I! now serves the double function of holding the bagbody open and supporting the same on a horizontal surface in theeasel-like manner, so that the contents of the bag body are convenientlyaccessible. A mirror 29 may be swingably mounted at its upper edge 30 ona side wall 12 so as to depend in convenient vertical position. When thebag is closed, the mirror lies alongside of the wall l2.

In Figs. 5 and 7 is shown an embodiment including a removable cover 3|for the bag body. The handbag may be exactly the same as in the deviceIt), except that in the latter the cover may a be regarded 'as removed.The cover 3| 'may consist of one or more plies of material of differentcolor or texture and may be reversible. It is folded under and extendsalong the sides of the bag body, and is of sufficient length so that itsend tubular portions 32 lie above those'of the bag body. Passing freelythrough thetubular portions 32 are the rods 33 which are identical withthe rods 22, except that their end pins 34 are received in slots 35 thatextend longitudinally of the arms 20. As shown in Fig. 7, the slots 35permit the rods to be engaged without expanding the frame members andreleasing the rods 22, since one end of a rod 33 is inserted in one slotand the rod tilted to engage the other end in the' opposed slot. Thenormal downward yielding tension of the cover 31 prevents accidentalrelease of the rods 33. The rods 22 and 33 thus lie parallel and in theplanes of the frame members [8 and in spaced relation under the handlebars NJ, with one set of rods at one side of the handbag and the otherat the opposite side of the handadapted to be assembled without changein construction, including a bag body, inverted U -shaped ,frame memberseach having a top handle bar and end arms, the frame members beingpivotally interconnected at the lower ends of said arms and thearms ofeach frame member having opposed openings intermediate of the pivot endsand handle bar and being resilient so that the spacing between saidopenings can be varied for releasably engaging the ends of a rod, rodshaving their ends releasably engaged in said openings, the bag bodyhaving an opening and tubular portions along the edges of said opening,the tubular portions being sleeved on said rods'to support the bag bodyand open and close the same upon relative movement of the frame membersabout their pivots, whereby the finished bag and frame can be assembledby inserting the rods through the tubular portions and snapping the rodsinto engagement with the frame members.

2. A handbag including a gusseted bag body having an opening havingmarginal tubular portions, inverted one-piece U-shaped frame memberseach having a top handle bar and arms depending therefrom, the framemembers being permanently pivotally interconnected at the ends of saidarms, rod members extending through the tubular portions to support thebag body, each rod member and its corresponding frame member havingmeans for releasable interengagement so that the rod member ispositioned intermediate of the handle bar and the pivot ends to open andclose the bag body by relative movement between the frame members,whereby difierentbag bodies may be interchangeably assembled with theframe.

3. 'Ahandbag including a bag body having side walls interconnected byend gussets and defining an opening, the side walls having individualtubular marginal portions extending longitudinally of the opening andbeing integral with the side walls, a frame including a plurality ofinverted U- shaped members each consisting of a top cross bar and armsdepending therefrom, the latter being pivotally interconnected at theirlower ends, each frame member being of one piece construction andconsisting of relatively resilient material so that the arms of eachframe member are movable toward and away from each other, the arms ofeach frame having opposed alined holes, said holes being located inspaced relation to the top cross bar and to the pivot ends of said arms,rods passing through the tubular portions of the side walls and each rodhaving its opposite ends engaged with said arms and in said holes of itsindividual frame member by springing apart and then releasing said arms,said rods being retained by said arms against relative longitudinalmovement, said top cross bars constituting handles for the handbag; andmeans releasably interengaging said handles.

4. A handbag including a bag body having an opening having marginaltubular portions, a cover for the bag body having tubular portions atthe ends thereof, the cover being folded around the bag body and thetubular portions thereof being above those of the bag body, rod elementsextending through the tubular portions of the cover and bag body, and aframe means for mounting the rod elements, said frame means including aplurality of inverted U-shaped frame members each having a top bar andspaced arms, the frame members being pivotally interconnected at theends of the arms, the rods passing through the tubular portions of thebag body being connected to the side arms intermediate of their pivotends 9 and the top bars, and the rods passing through the tubularportions of the cover having releasable socketed engagements at theirends with the said arms above the tubular portions of the bag body andbelow the top bars.

5. A handbag including a bag body having an opening having marginaltubular portions, a cover for the bag body having tubular portions atthe ends thereof, the cover being folded around the bag body and thetubular portions thereof being above those of the bag body, rod elementsextending through the tubular portions of the cover and bag body, and aframe means for mounting the rod elements, said frame means including aplurality of inverted U-shaped frame members each having a top bar andspaced arms, the frame members being pivotally interconnected at theends of said arms, the arms of each frame member having opposed alinedholes and being resiliently movable away from each other to permit rodsto be sprung into said holes, the latter being located intermediate ofthe pivot ends and the handle bars, the rods passing through the tubularportions of the bag body having their ends engaged in said holes tosupport the bag body, said arms of each frame member having opposedslots extending lengthwise of the arms above said holes and spaced belowthe handle bars, the rods passing through the tubular portions of thecover having ends smaller than said slots and being engaged in opposedslots by tiltingly inserting the rods into said slots.

6. A handbag including a frame comprising a plurality of invertedU-shaped frame members each providing a top handle bar and spaced arms,said frame members being pivotally interengaged at the lower ends ofsaid arms, each frame member consisting of a one piece channel elementproviding an outward facing groove, an elongated finished device securedin said groove and extending substantially continuously along the handlebar and the arms, a bag body, and means connected to the frame membersand lying intermediate of and inspaced relation to said pivot ends andsaid handle bars for mounting the bag body and for opening and closingthe same upon relative movement of the frame members about their pivots.

'7. A handbag according to claim 6, including a locking device forreleasably closing the handbag, said locking device being secured to thehandle bars at their under sides and being located above the bag body.

8. A handbag including a frame comprising a plurality of invertedU-shaped frame members, each providing a top handle bar and spaced arms,said frame members being pivotally interengaged at the lower ends ofsaid arms, each frame member consisting of a one piece channel elementproviding an outward facing groove, an elongated finished device securedin said groove and extending substantially continuously along the handlebar and the arms, a bag body, and means connected to the frame membersand lying intermediate of and in spaced relation to said pivot ends andsaid handle bars for mounting the bag body and for opening and closingthe same'upon relative movement of the frame members about their pivots,said means including rods, and the bag body having marginal tubularportions along the mouth thereof, said tubular portions being sleeved onsaid rods, the arms of each frame member having opposed portions forreleasably engaging the ends of a rod upon springing apart and releasingthe arms of a frame member, and the frame members consisting of aslightly resilient material to permit their arms to be sprung apart.

EDWARD LOWY.

